Strawberry plant named ‘PRESTIGE’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry plant named ‘PRESTIGE’. This new strawberry plant named ‘PRESTIGE’ is primarily adapted to the growing conditions of the central coast of California, and is primarily characterized by its medium to large plant size; medium fruit size; spreading calyx segments; long petiolule length; three to four leaflets/tri-foliate; moderate fruit production with very good flavor; and medium green foliage with medium glossy texture and medium interveinal blistering.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Fragariaananassa.

-   Variety denomination: ‘PRESTIGE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct strawberry varietynamed ‘PRESTIGE’. This new variety is a result of a controlled crossmade in 2000 in an ongoing breeding program between strawberry varietydesignated ‘PS-1269’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,686) andstrawberry variety designated ‘PS-3523’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No.14,447). The variety is botanically known as Fragaria ananassa.

The seedling resulting from the aforementioned cross was selected from acontrolled breeding plot in Monterey County, California in the summer of2002. After its selection, the new variety was asexually propagated bystolons in both San Joaquin County, California and Siskiyou County,California. The new variety was extensively tested over the next severalyears in fruiting fields in Monterey County, California. Thispropagation has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosedherein as characterizing the new variety are fixed and remain true totype through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘PRESTIGE’ is primarily adapted to the climate and growing conditions ofthe central coast of California. The nearby Pacific Ocean provides theneeded humidity and moderate temperatures to produce a strong vigorousplant and maintain fruit quality during the spring, summer and fallproduction months.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘PRESTIGE’, which in combinationdistinguish this strawberry plant as a new and distinct variety:

-   -   1. Medium to large plant size;    -   2. Medium fruit size;    -   3. Spreading calyx segments;    -   4. Long petiolule length;    -   5. Three to four leaflets/tri-foliate;    -   6. Moderate fruit production with very good flavor; and    -   7. Medium green foliage with medium glossy texture and medium        interveinal blistering.

The strawberry varieties that are believed to be most closely related tothe new strawberry variety ‘PRESTIGE’ are the strawberry variety‘PS-592’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,903) and the strawberryvariety ‘PS-4634’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP 17,487). Incomparison to the similar strawberry varieties ‘PS-592’ and ‘PS-4634’,the new strawberry variety ‘PRESTIGE’ differs by the followingcombination of characteristics as described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-4634’ (U.S. Plant (U.S. Plant Pat. No. Pat. No.Characteristic ‘PRESTIGE’ 9,903) 17,487)  1. Color of mature fruit RedOrange red Red to to red orange red  2. Average fruit weight 23.8 24.326.8    (gm)  3. Marketable yield 1,403 1,500 1,544    (gm/plt)  4.Attitude of the calyx Spreading Spreading to Spreading to reflexedreflexed  5. Time of first harvest Medium Early Early  6: Plant sizeMedium to large Large Large  7. Stolon diameter 3.5 4.1 3.9    (mm)  8.Interveinal leaf Medium Medium to Medium to    blistering strong strong 9. Foliage gloss Medium Strong Medium to strong 10. Number of leafletsThree to four Three Three 11. Terminal leaf shape Obtuse Acute Acute   of base 12. Petiolule length (mm) 17.4 13.2 10.0

For identification a series of AFLP molecular markers have beendetermined for this new variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance oftypical specimens of the new strawberry variety ‘PRESTIGE’, at variousstages of development as true as it is reasonably possible with colorreproductions of this type. Color in the photographs may differ slightlyfrom the color value cited in the botanical description which accuratelydescribe the color of ‘PRESTIGE’. The depicted plant and plant parts ofthe new strawberry variety ‘PRESTIGE’ were taken in Monterey County,California, and are approximately 8 to 9 months old:

FIG. 1 shows typical fruiting field characteristics of ‘PRESTIGE’ takenin the month of July 2007;

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of a typical leaf structure of ‘PRESTIGE’taken in the month of July 2007;

FIG. 3 shows typical mature and immature field fruit of ‘PRESTIGE’ takenin the month of July 2007;

FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of mature fruit of ‘PRESTIGE’ taken in themonth of July 2007;

FIG. 5 shows typical internal and external mature fruit characteristicsof ‘PRESTIGE’ taken in the month of July 2007.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

‘PRESTIGE’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The characteristics of the new variety may vary in detail,depending upon variations in environmental factors, including weather(temperature, humidity and light intensity), day length, soil type andlocation.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following descriptionof the new variety ‘PRESTIGE’, unless otherwise noted, is based onobservations taken during the 2007 growing season in Monterey County,California. These measurements and ratings were taken from plants of‘PRESTIGE’ dug from a high-elevation nursery located in Siskiyou County,California during the middle of October 2006 and planted approximately 3weeks later in Monterey County, California. The approximate age of theobserved plants is 8 to 10 months. Yield observations and fruit qualitycharacteristics are averaged from four years of data collected from the2004 through 2007 growing seasons. Flower measurements andcharacteristics are from secondary flowers unless otherwise noted. Fruitcharacteristics and measurements are from secondary fruit unlessotherwise noted.

Color terminology where noted follows the Munsell Book of Colors,Munsell Color, Baltimore Md. (1976).

The following Tables 8 describe fruit, plant, stolon, foliage, fruitingtruss, flower and pest disease characteristics of the new strawberry‘PRESTIGE’ in comparison to the similar strawberry variety ‘PS-592’(patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP 9,903) and strawberry variety ‘PS-4634’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. PP 17,487).

TABLE 2 FRUIT CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-4634’ (U.S. Plant Pat. (U.S.Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘PRESTIGE’ No. 9,903) No. 17,487) Color of7.5R 3/10 to 4/10 7.5R 3/12 to 4/12 7.5R 3/12 to 4/12 mature fruit RedOrange red to red Red to orange red Color of 7.5R 4/10 to 4/12 7.5R 5/10to 4/10 7.5R 5/10 to 4/12 internal flesh Medium red Light red Medium tolight red Length (cm) 4.6 4.7 4.8 Width (cm) 3.9 4.2 4.1 Ratio 1.18 1.131.17 length/width Slightly longer Slightly longer Slightly longer thanbroad than broad than broad Calyx diameter 4.5 4.7 4.3 (cm) Averageweight 23.8 24.3 26.8 (gm) Achene color 5Y 5/6 to 7.5R 5Y 6/8 to 7.5R 5Y6/8 to 7.5R 3/8 3/8 3/8 Achenes per 411 283 375 berry Achene weight 0.480.53 0.48 (mg) Marketable 1,403 1,500 1,544 yield (gm/plt) Size MediumMedium to large Large Predominant Conical Conical Conical shapeDifference in Slight Slight to Moderate shapes between moderate primaryand secondary fruit Band without Absent or Absent or Narrow achenes verynarrow very narrow Unevenness of Absent or Absent or Weak to mediumsurface very weak very weak Evenness of Even Even Slightly uneven colorto even Glossiness Medium to strong Strong Strong Insertion of Levelwith Level with Level with achenes surface surface surface Insertion ofLevel with to Level with to Level with to calyx in the basin above thefruit above the fruit Attitude of the Spreading Spreading to Spreadingto calyx reflexed reflexed Size of calyx in Slightly larger Slightlylarger Same Size to relation to fruit slightly larger diameter Adherenceof Strong Strong Strong calyx Firmness of Strong Medium Strong skinFirmness of Firm Medium Medium flesh Distribution of Marginal andMarginal and Marginal and red color of the central central central fleshHollow center Weak to moderate Moderate to Strong expression strongFlavor Very good Very good Good to very good Soluble solids 9.5 9.2 8.7(% brix) Time of first Medium Early Early flowering Time of first MediumEarly Early harvesting Harvest period Early April to Late March to LateMarch to early December early December early December Type of PartiallyPartially Partially bearing everbearing everbearing everbearing

TABLE 3 PLANT CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-4634’ (U.S. Plant Pat. (U.S.Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘PRESTIGE’ No. 9,903) No. 17,487) Height (cm)30.2 32.9 33.8 Spread (cm) 36.3 37.1 37.8 Crowns/plant 6.5 8.0 7.3 SizeMedium to large Large Large Habit Globose Globose Globose Density MediumMedium to open Medium Vigor Medium to strong Strong Strong

TABLE 4 STOLON CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-4634’ (U.S. Plant Pat. (U.S.Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘PRESTIGE’ No. 9,903) No. 17,487) Average 2.12.3 4.0 number per plant fruiting field Anthocyanin 7.5R 4/8 to 5/8 7.5R5/6 to 5/4 7.5R 4/8 to 5/8 coloration Anthocyanin Weak to medium Weak tomedium Weak to medium intensity Diameter at 3.5 4.1 3.9 bract (mm)Pubescence Medium Medium Weak to medium

TABLE 5 FOLIAGE CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-4634’ (U.S. Plant Pat.(U.S. Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘PRESTIGE’ No. 9,903) No. 17,487)Foliage: Color of upper 7.5GY 4/4 to 3/4 7.5GY 4/4 to 3/4 7.5GY 4/4 to3/4 surface Medium green Medium green Medium green Color of under 5GY5/4 to 6/4 5GY 5/4 to 6/4 5GY 5/4 to 6/4 side Medium grey Medium greyMedium grey green green green Shape in cross Slightly convex to Slightlyconcave Slightly concave section strongly convex to flat InterveinalMedium Medium to strong Medium to strong blistering Glossiness MediumStrong Medium to strong Number of 3 to 4 3 3 leaflets Terminal Leaflet:Length (cm) 9.5 10.9 10.0 Width (cm) 9.2 8.8 7.7 Length/width 1.02 1.231.30 ratio as long as broad much longer than much longer than broadbroad Serrations/leaf 21.6 21.3 22.8 Size Medium to large Large Mediumto large Shape of base Obtuse Acute Acute Shape of teeth Obtuse ObtuseObtuse Petiole: Length (cm) 22.7 25.1 27.3 Diameter (mm) 4.7 5.1 4.6Petiolule 17.4 13.2 10.0 length (mm) Pubescence Moderate Moderate toModerate to sparse sparse Attitude of Strongly outward Strongly outwardSlightly outward hairs Stipule: Length (mm) 19.6 21.9 19.6 Width (mm)8.5 9.4 9.1 Anthocyanin Strong Medium Strong coloration Color Light tomedium Light to medium Medium green green green

TABLE 6 FRUITING TRUSS CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-4634’ (U.S. PlantPat. (U.S. Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘PRESTIGE’ No. 9,903) No. 17,487)Length (cm) 34.5 35.3 37.5 Position Level with Level with to Level withrelative to beneath foliage Pubescence Strong Medium Medium to weakAnthocyanin Very light to none Light Very light to none intensityAttitude at first Prostrate Prostrate Prostrate pick

TABLE 7 FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-4634’ (U.S. Plant Pat. (U.S.Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘PRESTIGE’ No. 9,903) No. 17,487) Petal colorN 9.5/90%R to N 9.5/90%/R to N 9.5/90%R to N 9.25/84.2%R N 9.25/84.2%R N9.25/84.2%R White White White Corolla 32.2 33.0 32.7 diameter (mm) Calyxdiameter 34.4 36.4 36.3 (mm) Petal length 12.0 12.3 12.6 (mm) Petalwidth 11.5 12.1 12.5 (mm) Petal 1.04 1.01 1.01 length/width ratioPetals/flower 6.1 6.5 6.3 Sepal length 12.2 13.0 12.5 (mm) Sepal width4.5 4.2 4.2 (mm) Sepal 2.73 3.11 2.97 length/width ratio Sepals/flower12.3 13.1 12.9 Size of calyx Larger Larger Larger relative to corollaSize of inner Smaller Same size to Same size to calyx relative smallerlarger to outer calyx Relative Overlapping Overlapping Overlappingposition of petals

TABLE 8 PEST AND DISEASE REACTIONS ‘PS-592’ ‘PS-4634’ (U.S. Plant Pat.(U.S. Plant Pat. Characteristic ‘PRESTIGE’ No. 9,903) No. 17,487) Twospotted spider mite Moderately Moderately Moderately susceptiblesusceptible susceptible Flower thrips Moderately Moderately Moderatelysusceptible susceptible susceptible Powdery mildew Moderately ModeratelyModerately susceptible susceptible susceptible Botrytis fruit rotModerately Moderately Moderately susceptible susceptible susceptibleAngular leaf spot Moderately Moderately Susceptible susceptiblesusceptible

1. A new and distinct strawberry plant named ‘PRESTIGE’, as hereindescribed and illustrated by the characteristics set forth above.